Feeler motion for looms



A. E. RHOADES. FEELER MOTION FOR LOOMS. APPLICATION FILED APR-8,1916.

1,41 3,784. Patented p 25, 1922.

ALONZO E. RHOADES, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO DRAPER CORPORATION, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A GORPQRA,

TION OF MAINE.

remain MOTION FOR LOOMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. April 8, 1916. Serial No. 89,779.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALoNzo E. RHOADES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hopedale, county of lVorcester, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvementin Feeler Motions for Looms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specificatlon, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to feeler motions for looms, whereby upon detection of substantial exhaustlon of the filling in the running shuttle, a train of mechanism is rendered effective to change the operative condition of the loom as by replenishing the supply of filling.

,The present invention relates more particularly to that type of feeler mot1ons wherein a feeler member receives directly upon it the frontward push of the filhngmass and is prevented from movement longitudlnally ofthe shuttle until the filling has become substantially exhausted, whereupon it is moved in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle by the frontward push upon it to thereby position a train of mechanism for effecting replenishment of the filling.

As well understood by those skilled in the art, a feeler mechanism must be sensitive and reliable in the discharge of its detecting function, in order that it will not call for a change of filling when a sufiicient or working supply is present in the shuttle, and yet will detect substantial exhaustion of the filling with accuracy and thereupon initiate the replenishing operation. When the filling s wound upon the filling carrier or bObblIl, 1t is placed thereon by what is generally known as a filling wind, that is, the mass of filling 1s built up from the base portion of the bobbin in successive conical layers towards the end, so that the filling may be readily withdrawn from the shuttle. As it is thus drawn from the shuttle during the weaving operation, the conical form of the wind is frequently presented to the feeler mechanism. Also as is well recognized in the art, the longitudlnal contour or shape of the Wound mass of filling varies greatly. The body of the completelywound filling carrier or bobbin is generally of cylindrical form, but this general form varies according to the character of wind, as for instance, whether or not there be a bunch placed upon the carrier or bobbin and it also varies according to the usages of different mills. This variation in the cylindrical form may also result from other causes, and the longitudinal contour or shape of the bobbin itself frequently varies.

In view of the variations in the lon itudinal contour of the surface that may e engaged, it is desirable that a feeler mechanism shall have a contact member or feeler tip that is self-conformable to the longitudinal shape or contour of the surface within the shuttle engaged by it, whereby its working face may be permitted through contact with the filling mass or filling carrier to aline itself in parallelism with the longitudinal contour or surface of the portion of the filling mass or filling carrier presented to it. In feeler mechanisms of this general type, which are usually known as side-swipe feeler mechanisms, the laterally movable feeler member or arm is held from movement laterally or in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle by engagement with the mass of filling when a working supply is present in the shuttle, but when the supply nears depletion and is too small to prevent the lateral movement of the'feeler member or arm, the engaging end or tip slides longitudinally of theifilling carrier along the engaged surface. Under both of these conditions it is desirable that the working face of the engaging member or feeler tip conform to the longitudinal direction and contour of the surface which acts against it regardless of whether such surface is the wound mass of filling or that of the filling carrier or bobbin or even portions of both.

An important feature of the present invention, therefore, consists in a feeler mechanism wherein theengaging member or tip shall be self-conformable to the general longitudinal shape of the surface within the shuttle engaged by it so that it may be held from bodily longitudinal movement of the shuttle with accuracy by the filling mass when a working supply is present, and be slid conform itself .to, the general longitudinal contour or shape of the filling mass-engaged by it and when such mass has become substantially exhausted, will be moved bodily in the same plane and in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle to position a train of mechanism for effecting filling replenishment.

The above and other important features of the invention will be hereinafter described, in connection with the'accompanying drawings whichillustrate a good practical form thereof, and then such features of the invention will be definitely pointed out by the claims.

In the drawings Figure l is a plan view of a feeler mechanism embodying the present invention, only suflicient parts of the loom being shown. as are desirable to make clear the association of the feeler mechanism therewith;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1', with some of the parts omitted, showing the action of the feeler mechanism when a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle, and the lay makes its detecting beat;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the action of the feeler mechanism when the supply of filling in'the shuttle has become substantially exhausted andthe critical point is reached at which replenishment is desired; and I Fig. 4 is a detached edge view showing the relation of some of the parts of the feeler mechanism.

In the present illustrated form of the invention, the feeler carrier is mounted in a feeler stand 1 which may be secured to the loom frame, in any suitable manner, asby means of a slot 2 in an edge portion of the feeler stand through which suitable securing means may be passed, such as screws or the like The feeler stand preferably comprises a base plate and a cover which may be of the usuaf well-understood construction, and such parts may be appropriately connected in operative relation by the screws 3.

The feeler carrier 4 in the present instance of the invention, comprises a sliding plate mounted in the feeler stand 1, for reciprocating movement. The feeler carrier 4 may be provided with a shank portion 5 extending through a suitable bearing in the front portion of the feeler stand, and a wider portion 6 to slide upon suitable ways 7 formed in the feeler stand. A lug 8, shown by dotted lines in Fig. l, and projecting downward from the cover of the feeler stand, may, in connection with an overhanging plate 9 to be further described, confine the feeler carrier 4 to its longitudinal reciprocating movement with relation to the feeler stand. This formation of parts has been found to be convenient and practlcal, but it is to be understood that the feeler carrier 4 may be variously 'formed on the feeler carrier.

The shuttle 12 may be of usual or any preferred construction, and in the present instance comprises the bobbin-holding jaws 13 adapted to receive between them the bobbinholding rings 14 formed on the base portion of the bobbin 15.

Tn the'present feeler mechanism, the engaging member or tip feels into the shuttle on each detecting beat of the lay and receives directly upon it the forward push of the surface or filling mass 16 therein; and in order that this action may be conveniently performed, the front wall 17 of the shuttle box is provided with an opening 18 and a similar registering opening 19, is formed in the side wall of the shuttle, the construction being such that as the lay beats up, the feeler may enter the shuttle and feel for the filling therein. The construction so far described may be as usual in this class of devices.

The presentinvention contemplates that the I engaging member 01' tip which enters the shuttle on the detecting beat and feels for the filling therein, shall be self-conformable to the general longitudinal shape or contour of the surface engaged by it in order that engaging member may be slid in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle by the forward push upon it when the filling in the shuttle has become substantially exhausted. The en gaging member or tip"is, therefore, mounted for angular movement'frelative to the feeler arm which carries it, and in the present instance of the invention the engaging member or tip 20 is provided with a series of teeth, or roughened fillingengaging portions 21, and is pivotally mounted at 22 to a feeler arm 23 which has an offset pivotal connection. at 24 with the feeler carrier 4, the construction being such that when a working supply of filling is present on a detecting beat the working surface or the toothed or roughened portions 21 of the engaging member or tip 20 will directly engage the working mass of filling in substantial parallelism to the longitudinal surface thereof and be held by said mass from movement longitudinally of the shuttle as the lay' completes its forward movement. The effect of this is that should the longitudinal shape of the filling mass vary the filling engaging portion of the feeler member or tip will conform to such variations and shape and be effectively held by the filling mass from movement longitudinally of the shuttle.

In the present instance of the invention the rear end portion of the feeler carrier 4 is preferably recessed as indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, and the engaging member or tip 20 is provided with a frontwardly-extending portion 25 loosely fitting said recessed portion of the feeler carrier topermit such angular movement of the engaging member or tip 20 as above described.

The construction in this respect is such that the walls 26 and 27 of the recessed portion of the feeler carrier 4 form stops against which the edges of the frontwardly-extending portion 25 of the feeler tip maycontact to limit both the swinging and bodily movements of the feeler member longitudinally of the shuttle. This form of construction has been found convenient and practical, but it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily restricted to these details.

The engaging member'or tip 20 is pivotally mounted upon the feeler arm 23 which is uninfluenced by the angular movement of the engaging member or tip as it conforms itself to the longitudinal shape. or contour of the filling mass in the shuttle, but is movable with such engaging member or tip when the latter, upon substantial exhaustion of the filling in the shuttle, is moved longitudinally of the shuttle by the forward push.v In the present instance, an actuator or lever 28 is pivotally mounted at 29 upon the feeler carrier 4 and has a recessed end portion 30 which is adapted at times to engage the end of a controller 31 as will presently appear. The other end portion of the actuating lever 28 is operatively connected to the feeler arm 23 by means of a pinand slot connection, such for instance, as a pin 32 projecting from the feeler arm 23 engaging a slot 33 formed in the end of the actuator 28.

-It may be desirable in some instances to limit the swinging movement of the feeler arm 23 as said arm carries the engaging 'member or tip 20 into its feeling position,

- as will presently appear; and to this end a pin 34 may be secured to the feeler carrier 4 to limit the movement of the feeler arm. In order that the engaging member or 1 tip 20 may be moved to its initial feeling position as the lay goes back after a detecting movement, the plate 9, hereinbefore described, is provided with a cam portion 35 I which is adapted to be engaged by the front end portion 36 of the actuator 28 and thereby turn the actuator and feeler arm to carry the feeler tip 20 into its feeling position as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

From the construction described, it will be apparent that when a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle on a detecting beat, the toothed filling engaging portion 21 of the feeler tip will directly engage the filling mass and will automatically conform to the general direction of the longitudinal shape of the filling mass by swinging upon its pivotal connection 22 with the feeler arm; and as the lay beats up, said feeler tip will be held from bodily movementlongitudinally of the shuttle by said working supply of filling, and the parts will remain in the position indicated in Fig. 1, as they move with the feeler carrier 4 towards the front of the loom, the end 30 of the actuator 28 at such times failing to engage the controller 31. When, however, the filling has become substantially exhausted as typified by Fig. 3, the forward push of the filling carrier or bobbin against the feeler member 20 will cause the feeler tip to move bodily in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle as indicated in Fig. 3, thereby turning the feeler arm upon its pivot 24 and moving the actuator 28 into the position for engagement of its end 30 with the controller 31 as the feeler carrier and feeler tip move further frontward under the beatup movement of the lay. Such movement of the controller, substantially as indicated in Fig. 3, is utilized to set in operation a train of mech-' anism which may effect a change in the loom operation, as for instance, the filling replenishing mechanism, and cause such replenishment when the shuttle has returned to the replenishing side of the loom, as well understood by those skilled in the art. In order to rturn the controller 31 to its initial position again, as the feeler carrier 4 moves rearwardly after having initiated filling replenishment, the feeler carrier is provided with a lug 37 through which is threaded the adjusting screw 38, the end of which may engage the controller 31 as the feeler carrier 4 returns to its rearward position, substantially as indicated in Fig. 1. If desired, the adjusting screw 38 may be provided with a set nut 39 which, when the screw is properly adjusted, may be set up 115 against the lug 37 to hold the parts in their adjusted relation.

The rearward position of the feeler carrier 4 is controlled by suitable stops which in the present instance, comprise the edge portion 120 40 projected from the feeler carrier or slide, which is adapted to engage a stop 41 secured to the feeler stand when the feeler carrier 4 reaches its rearward initial position under the impulse of the spring 10.

Claims:

1. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler arm whichis mounted for movement toward the front of the loom and also in a direction longitudinally 130 of the filling carrier by the frontward preswhich are moved longitudinally along the. surface engaged by them when the filling is substantially exhausted, and pivotal connections between the feeler arm and feeler tip which permit the toothed engaging portion of the feeler tip to conform to the surface of the filling carrier as the toothed surface of the tip slides longitudinally along the filling carrier.

2. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler arm, a feeler tip which has a filling engaging toothed surface extending a substantial distance longitudinally along the surface engaged by it on a detecting beat and which is mounted on. the feeler arm for movement in three directions due to thefrontwardpressure upon it on a detecting beat, one a movement toward the front of the loom, the second a movement longitudinally along the filling carrier when the filling is substantially exhausted, and the third a movement to conform the extended toothed engaging surface of the feeler tip to the surface of the filling carrier as it slides longitudinally along the filling carrier, and means actuated .to effect replenishment of filling when the feeler tip partakes of its second movement due to the frontward pressure upon it.

3. A feeler mechanism for looms, comprising, in combination, a feeler arm mounted for movement toward the front of the loom and for movement laterally, a feeler tip that is pivoted to the feeler arm and" receives the frontward pressure upon it to effect frontward and lateral movements of the feeler arm, and a series of teeth con-' stituting the engaging end of the feeler.v

' ward pressure upon it on a detecting beat when the filling is substantially exhausted, a feeler tip which is pivotally mounted on the feeler arm ,and has a plurality of teeth constituting the engaging end of the tip which slides longitudinally along the filling carrier due to the frontward pressure when the filling is substantially exhausted and which conform to the surface of the filling carrier as they slide along its surface, and

means for effecting replenishment of filling when the feeler tip slides longitudinally of the filling carrier or bobbin on a detecting beat.

5. A. feeler mechanism for looms, comprising, in combination, a feeler carrier, a 3

along the surface of the filling. carrier or I bobbin when filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat.

6. A feeler mechanism for looms, comprising, in combination, a feeler carrier, a

feeler armpivoted on the carrier for move ment toward and from the front of the loom and also for movement longitudinally of the shuttle by frontward pressure of a surface within the shuttle, a feeler tip having filling engaging teeth and pivotally mounted upon the feeler arm in lateral off-setrelation to the pivot of the arm to cause movement of the arm and tip longitudinally of the shuttle by frontward pressure upon the pivoted tip and to conform the tip to the surface of the filling carrier or bobbin as the feeler tip is-moved longitudinally alongthe surface of the filling carrier or bobbin when filling is substantially exhausted on at detecting beat.

is pivotally I supported for movement toward and from the front of the loom and also in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, a feeler tip pivoted to the rear por- 7. A feelermechanism for looms, .comprlsing, in combination, a feeler arm which tion of the feeler arm in off-set relationto the pivotal support'of the feeler arm that the frontward pressure upon the feeler tip' may be effective to cause movement of the feeler arm in a direction longitudinally of a.

the shuttle and conforming movement. ofthe feeler tip to the surface of the bobbin or filling carrier as the tip moves along said surface when filling is substantially, exhausted on a detecting beat.

8. A filling-feeler of side-slipping type having the feeler-tip or: contact piece there-: .of adapted for holding engagement with the filling supply and for side-slip upona substantially denuded filling carrier, and also movably hung in manner causing it to conform to the longitudinaldirection and contour of the superficies of'the shuttle-' "contents and make flat contact therewith in the feeling .action and also as it slips laterally thereon. I

' adapted for holding engagement with the filling-supply and for side-slip upon a substantially-denuded filling. carrier, and also movably hung in manner causing it to conform to the longitudinal direction and contour of the superficies of the shuttle-contents and make flat contact therewith in the feeling action and also as it slips laterally thereon.

her having a feeler-tip or contact-piece Which is adapted for holding engagement with the filling-supply and for side-slip upon a" substantially-denuded filling-carrier, with said feeler-tip or contact-piece pivoted to the said feeler' member so as to permit self adjustment of the same on the feeler-member to the superficies of the shuttle-contents in a feeling action, and adapt its working face to slide in fiat contact with the said superficies in the side-slipping ac tion. v

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ALONZO E. RHOADES. 

